Riley O’Brien’s season has taken a hit in the second half, but the Cardinals don’t need to rush to move on from him as their closer.
That’s the basic message from former Cardinal Lance Lynn, who sees plenty of value in what O’Brien has already done in 2026. O’Brien leads the National League with 37 saves and earned an All-Star nod this year alongside Jordan Walker and Ivan Herrera. Even with the recent rough stretch, Lynn thinks the bigger picture still points to a successful season.
"I think if you look at the beginning of the year and you say, 'Hey, he has 30-plus saves and made an All-Star team', that's a hell of a year for him," Lynn said. "I think we need to realize it's also his first full year in the big leagues even with his age."
O’Brien is 31, but he arrived as a late bloomer and only now has had the chance to work through a full major league season. The Cardinals have asked a lot of him, and despite the bumps, he’s still been an important part of the bullpen.
His latest blown save came last week against the Chicago White Sox, and he’s near the top of the league in that category. Still, this is a rebuilding season, and the Cardinals have enough reason to keep investing in him rather than treat every stumble like a final verdict.
The organization also hasn’t exactly lived in a world of long-term dominance at the back end of games. Even Ryan Helsley had his hiccups, and the last truly dominant closer they had was Jason Isringhausen.
That’s why O’Brien’s first full season matters so much. There were always going to be rough patches, but he’s banked experience in a role that comes with very little margin for error. Next year, he could come back with a better sense of how to handle it all.
The Cardinals could use another arm with closing experience next season, and that would help ease some of the pressure. But with his velocity and what he’s already shown, it’s too early to write O’Brien off.
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